Article metering device

A pair of opposed article metering devices for use in a conveyor system, each article metering device comprising:

• a continuous belt;
• a body;
• a motor operatively connected to the body for drivingly moving the belt;
• and
• a belt guide having opposed ends operatively connected to and continuously supported by the body in at least two directions, the belt guide having a support surface for continuously supporting the belt between the opposed ends, the belt guide having a different coefficient of expansion/contraction than the body, the belt guide operatively connected to the body such that the belt guide can freely expand/contract relative to the body without distorting the support surface, the belt guide extending between adjacent conveyor sections of the conveyor system or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system;
• wherein the opposed continuous belts of the pair of opposed article metering devices continuously supporting and metering articles between adjacent conveyor sections of the conveyor system or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system.

A method of conveying articles along file a conveyor system, comprising:

• providing a continuous belt, a body, a motor operatively connected to the body for drivingly moving the belt;
• and a belt guide having opposed ends operatively connected to and continuously supported by the body in at least two directions, the belt guide having a support surface for continuously supporting the belt between the opposed ends, the belt guide having a different coefficient of expansion/contraction than the body, the belt guide operatively connected to the body such that the belt guide can freely expand/contract relative to the body without distorting the support surface, the belt guide extending between adjacent conveyor sections of the conveyor system or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system;
• and
• actuating the motor for conveying articles between the conveyor sections or between different positions of a conveyor section of the conveyor system.